Chapter Text
The smoke flowed smoothly down his trachea, Sherlock pulled it down further into his lungs and held it there for a moment before exhaling with a satisfied sigh. He instantly felt better, the tension slowly draining away from his neck and shoulders. This was worth the berating he fully expected to receive from John when he returned from work but until then Sherlock was going to savor every draw of the cannabis loaded cigarette. After all it wasn’t cocaine or any other opiate and the last time he had used it, even John had to admit it mellowed him, making him much more amiable.
Sherlock leaned back against the wall and blew another lung full of smoke out the open window just as he heard footfalls on the stairs.
“I could smell that in the hallway Sherlock. Mrs Hudson isn’t going to be happy.” John started talking before he even reached the doorway and strode to the kitchen dumping the shopping bag onto the worktop.
“Ha! Where do you think I got this from John? Those herbal soothers of hers are magic.”
John chuckled despite himself and flopped into his chair. “At least you’ve got the window open this time.” He studied Sherlock, the man was certainly more relaxed looking now than he had been for weeks, maybe he would even eat and sleep properly after this.
Sherlock drew deeply on the spliff again, stretching his neck up as he exhaled the smoke, the bright sunlight tinting it blue. John marveled at the sight. Sherlock was surrounded by a blue grey halo, his dark curls in sharp contrast to the paleness of his skin and brightness of his eyes.
“You should try it John.” He said with a slight smile touching his lips. “I’d be very interested to see you stoned.”
“I bet you would.” John grinned, he could do with getting out of his own head for a while, their last case had been particularly stressful and the day at the surgery had been full of bad tempered, ungrateful patients. Maybe he would forget about the health issues of smoking and partake for once.
“It wouldn’t be the first time you know.” John said pushing up from his chair and moving to stand next to Sherlock.
Sherlock turned and held out the joint, not really expecting John to take it. His eyebrows shot up as John reached out and plucked it from his outstretched fingers. He watched, fascinated as John brought it to his lips and sucked in a lungful of smoke.
John coughed and handed it back to a disappointed detective. “Urgh that’s why I don’t partake, the taste and feel of drawing it down *cough* isn’t pleasant to an non smoker.”
“But if you could bypass that would you?” Sherlock asked intrigued.
John nodded “Yeah *cough* I suppose I would, once in a while.”
“I have an idea.” Sherlock said with a wide grin.
“Uh oh, now I’m in trouble.” John smiled back.
“Trust me.” Sherlock moved closer and inhaled on the joint again. He stepped closer still and much to John’s surprise slipped a cool hand around the nape of John’s neck. He leaned down, his lips hovering millimeters from John’s and whispered “Inhale slowly.” as his lips parted and he let the smoke slip out of his mouth and into John’s.
Sherlock was gazing at John's mouth in a way that probably should have made him uncomfortable but it didn't, he couldn't take his eyes off the detective's face. John inhaled gently, slowly and this time he couldn't even feel the smoke move down his windpipe.
All too quickly that beautiful mouth withdrew and the surprisingly soft hand slipped away from the back of his neck. John was left swaying slightly, leaning forward on the balls of his feet, his eyes half closed. He steadied himself, rocking back and let out a breath that was faintly tinted with smoke.
"Was that more acceptable?"
Sherlock's voice was deep, resonant and yet seemed too far away, even though he was still standing in close proximity to John.
"Oh yeah, that works." John almost whispered the words. "Ok I concede, that is a most useful relaxation method." He sighed and leaned back against the wall on the opposite side of the window, facing Sherlock.
"It's been a rough day, hell it's been a rough month."
"More?" Sherlock asked with slight smile.
"Yeah why not?" John pushed off from the wall and stepped towards Sherlock just as the detective did the same, they were virtually touching.
Sherlock repeated his previous movements. As his hand slipped behind John's head again, there was a distinct fluttering deep in John's stomach and he tried not to gasp. He watched intently as time seemed to slow and the pale lips parted as they moved closer and closer. John drew the smoke in as Sherlock let it slip slowly from his mouth. The moment froze, dust motes in the sunlit air stopped in their lazy patterns, the sounds from the street below became muted and hazy. John stretched up and let his lips touch those before him. There was a brief moment of panic as his brain registered what his body was doing and then John watched transfixed as Sherlock's eyes drifted closed, his dark lashes sweeping downwards and those pale, soft lips pressed more firmly against his own.
John let his own eyelids drift downwards as he reached up cupping Sherlock's cheek and fell headlong into the best and most wanted kiss he had ever had.